Pastor Larry G. Raven

Pastor Larry G. Raven was born Jan. 30, 1945, in Elysian Fields, to the parentage of Timothy and Georgia Raven. He was the fifth of 12 children born into this loving and hard-working family. He attended grade schools in the Elysian Fields community and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1963. Larry moved to Houston, and after a brief stay, he decided to enter the United States Army in October 1965.

He served two years, including the Vietnam War, and was honorably discharged in Oct. 1967.

On April 2, 1967, he married his High School Sweetheart, Evelyn Lucile Beechum.

To this union two children were born - Rhonda and Daryl. Each of them was special to him in their own way.

Pastor Raven accepted Christ in April of 1976 and was called into the ministry in May of the same year.

He attended various seminary schools, equipping himself to do what the Lord had called him to do.

He was a member of the Greater Progressive Baptist Church in Dallas, under the leadership of the late Pastor J. J. Raven until he was called to pastor the Lone Star Baptist Church of Oakwood, in April of 1983.

Pastor Larry G. Raven served Lone Star faithfully for 40 years.

During his tenure, he stressed the importance of salvation, spiritual growth, and service to others.

Anyone who knows the Raven family knows that we love a good family gathering.

And no family gathering is complete, according to Larry, without what, food!

His brother, Glen, said Larry was a part of the Eatomite (not Edomite) Tribe. He loved to go fishing, and he loved to eat fish.

Larry was famous for his barbecue (and special barbecue sauce), but everyone loved his famous spaghetti and meatballs and Chicken a lá King.

He was also known for his infectious humor, numerous pairs of glasses, and unique vocabulary.

Several church members declared they would create a dictionary of all the words he made up.

Everything Larry did, he put his all into it, and he will be greatly missed.

Pastor Raven is preceded in death by his wife of almost 44 years, Evelyn; parents, Timothy and Georgia; step-father, J. C. Rosborough, Jr.; one brother, Timothy Raven, Jr; and special sister-inlaw, Gwendolyn Ruth Raven.

Those left to cherish his innumerable memories are: his daughter, Rhonda (Triveno) Raven-Woodson of Lancaster; son, Daryl Raven of Dallas; seven brothers, Richard (Frances) Jackson of Houston; Wendell (Annie) Raven, Sr. of Jeffersonville, Georgia; Charles Raven, Sr. of Dallas; Dee (Mattie) Raven of Duncanville; Glendell (Wilma) Raven, Sr. of Clayton, North Carolina; Adell Raven of Prattville, Alabama; and Danny (Debra) Raven of Longview; three sisters, Annie Rangel of DeSoto; Mary Raven of Elysian Fields; and Percilla (Mark) Hays of Marshall; three grandchildren, Ravonté, Ravyn, and Robyn Woodson, all of Lancaster; two uncles, John Ravin of Houston; and James Ravin of Ft. Worth; sister-inlaw, Shirley Raven, of Ft. Worth; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.